Spirit of All the Russias by John C. Bunnell

Spirit of All the Russias by John C. Bunnell
Publisher: Uncial Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (21 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

“This is not the Russia I remember.”

Baba Yaga, legendary witch and mistress of the chicken-legged hut Izbushka, has awakened to find her ancient homeland a blasted, nearly lifeless wasteland. Forestland has vanished, the old spirits are gone, and even humanity has nearly disappeared.

“You are stubborn as we were stubborn, fierce as we were fierce, self-reliant as we were self-reliant.”

One young man, Josef, finds himself caught up in Baba Yaga’s search for answers. But even with Josef’s insight, and with all the magic in Russia at her fingertips, will Russia’s most notorious sorceress be able to restore her homeland to even a shadow of what it was?

Change is a necessary part of life, but not every change is a good one.

Baba Yaga is one of the most interesting characters I’ve met in a long time. I hovered between fearing her unpredictable use of her powers and being utterly fascinated with how she expresses her concern for what has happened to her country. She’s dangerous and nurturing at the same time. This juxtaposition leaks through the plot in sometimes unexpected ways, and it is the biggest reason why I gave this story such a high rating.

As someone who is completely unfamiliar with the Russian language or that culture’s mythology, it would have been helpful if either the narrator or one of the characters had explained what Baba Yaga meant when she uses certain terms. I was able to figure out some of the references due to how they were used in the text, but there are a few terms that remain a mystery to me. This is a minor criticism of an otherwise enthralling tale, though.

The exquisitely detailed passages in this story made me feel as if I were standing next to Baba Yaga as she surveys the ruined land that she once knew so well. Spirit of All the Russias was my first introduction to Mr. Bunnell’s work. If this is any indication of the author’s world-building abilities, I can’t wait to read everything else he’s written so far.

Spirit of All the Russias is a must-read for anyone who is a fan of the science fiction or fantasy genres.

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Review Star Rating Definitions

1 Star – We currently do not review any story with a 1 star rating. If it’s DNF or a “wall-banger” we decline to review.

2 Stars — Not wonderful, but tolerable. There may be some minor editing glitches but not enough to stop you reading. Not a wall-banger, but nothing you’d re-read. This is a book you would borrow from the library – not buy- and never check out again. You might recommend it to a friend with a mention of the glitches, knowing that something in the plot or story would still appeal to them regardless.

3 Stars — Good. Mostly enjoyable. You made it through and didn’t consider it a waste of time or money. The story was strong enough or the conflict tight enough, so even when the book faltered, it was able to draw you back in and keep you. There’s a chance you’ll recommend it to a friend, but it wouldn’t go on your keeper shelf.

4 Stars — Very Good. You’re glad you were the one who got to review the book. You would probably buy it and would definitely recommend it to your friends. You liked the characters and the plot. The writing style was good and the editing clean.

5 Stars — Great! You would definitely buy this book. You would definitely recommend it to your friends. You really loved the characters and the plot and would consider looking for this authors back list or making her an autobuy. The writing and editing were superb.

LASR Best Book – For a book or story that is truly exceptional. You think about it when you’re not reading it. You wonder what happens to the characters when you finish. You would absolutely buy everything else this author had to offer. The highest praise – and reserved for only a few.

Review Heat Level Descriptions

SWEET: no visual love scenes and no descriptive kissing;

SENSUAL: Contains a high degree of sexual tension, steamy kisses and passionate clinches, but all fully consummated love scenes will be implied, not described, and with the bedroom door firmly closed.

SPICY: Contains actual love scenes and may include detailed descriptions of foreplay and consummation.

HOT: Contains sizzling and very detailed love scenes throughout and graphic, explicit content which may be offensive to some.

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Most books reviewed on this site have been provided free of charge by the publisher, author or publicist. On occasion, we review books we have purchased with our own money or borrowed from a public library. Any links to places to purchase books are provided as a convenience, and do not serve as an endorsement by this blog. All reviews are the true and honest opinion of the blogger reviewing the book. The method of acquiring the book does not have a bearing on the content of the review.